NPR: Kerrey Apologizes to Obama for Muslim Remark

Kerrey Apologizes to Obama for Muslim Remark

Former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey has apologized to follow Democrat Barack Obama.

The Associated Press is reporting that the apology was for any unintentional insult Kerrey committed by raising the presidential candidate's Muslim heritage while endorsing rival candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Obama is a Christian.)

In an interview with the Washington Post on Sunday detailing why he was supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton, Kerrey (who is currently the president of New School University in NYC) also mused on some of the qualifications Obama had for president: "It's probably not something that appeals to him, but I like the fact that his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and that his father was a Muslim and that his paternal grandmother is a Muslim. There's a billion people on the planet that are Muslims and I think that experience is a big deal."

Kerrey sent a letter to Obama yesterday, lauding the Illinois senator's qualifications to be president and saying that he "never meant to harm his candidacy." Kerrey told AP in a telephone interview that he sent the letter on his own and had not spoken to Clinton or her campaign about the comments he made Sunday in Iowa. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the senator accepted Kerrey's apology, sent to the campaign in the mail and via e-mail.

11:51 AM ET | 12-20-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I don't see how his comment was an insult, in any way shape or form.

That was a complimentary statement in fact. So... yeah, this isn't news.

Sent by Jody Sol | 12:55 PM ET | 12-20-2007

I don't get what was the insult, or implied insult. It sounds like a positive comment to me.

Sent by Jim Terr | 2:12 PM ET | 12-20-2007

What insult?
Your name sounds Muslim, your father's family IS Muslim, AND "I think experience is a big deal" (you Muslim ,freshman senator from Illinois)

(Oh! sorry to hurt your feelings.)

And you people WANTED him to be president in 2004? Why didn't Kerry go for bonus points and call him a Black Muslim!

"You don't slap someone in the face, then apologize!" - Jane Fonda (from: Monster-in-Law)

Sent by Harold | 3:41 PM ET | 12-20-2007

Wrong guy, Harold. Bob Kerrey made the statement, not John Kerry.

Sent by Steve Jones | 3:59 PM ET | 12-20-2007

Bob Kerrey is an idiot too! I know, we live south of him!

Sent by Harold | 5:24 PM ET | 12-20-2007

hey Harold,you made me smile.However your comment was well wrtiien execpt for the name confusion.

Sent by Kakel | 1:03 AM ET | 01-10-2008

I see that America is enduring yet another 'apology.'

Jane Fonda had to apologize for using a slang term for a female body part, on the Today Show.

America is experiencing a syndrome of sitting through one apology after another. Which is one of the big reasons I predict that neither Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama will win the White House.

When voters go to the polls, they will be considering just how many more moments of apologia they will have to sit through for the next four years should Clinton or Obama be elected.

Already, apologies have been flowing like wine. After a while, apologies get to be like 'Crying Wolf.' Nobody's listening. Everybody's rolling their eyes. All our muttering, "If I hear one more apology I'm going to scream."

Before it's over, everyone will be doing a 'Don Imus' impersonation for apologizing for everything under the sun. Mimes will create silent apologizing. Soldiers will have to shout apologies to the enemy before shooting. America, en masse, will become a nation down on its knees apologizing for everything and anything.

And this is what turns voters off when it comes to voting for either Hillary or Barack.

In the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel 'The Scarlet Letter,' Hester's body was branded with an 'A' for adultery. Americans will be branded with the letter 'A' for apology.

I just don't see this happening in the coming election. Americans don't particularly enjoy apologizing. It gets wearisome.

Hence, come election day, the majority of Americans will go for the candidate who promises the least amount of apologies necessary for their presidential term.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 6:03 PM ET | 02-14-2008

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